The summer season is here and it has made us start dreaming of beaches, sea and a bronze tan. Despite the well-known dangers of overexposure to the sun, many of us cannot be satisfied until they achieve the desired tan. If we don’t use proper sunscreens or in the case of too many hours of sun exposure, there is always a risk of sunburn. Therefore, we have looked for a few tips on how you can deal with the problem quickly under field conditions.

One of the easiest methods is to fill a bowl with cold water and put ice cubes in it. Soak a soft cotton towel or other piece of cloth in the water and apply on the sunburnt area. When you feel that the chill of the compress disappears, soak it again and re-apply on the problem area. Repeat this procedure for about 15 minutes.

If you feel that the sunburn is painful you can add aluminium acetate powder, which is easily found in pharmacies. Mix the powder with water and apply on the problem area with a cold compress. Aluminium acetate protects the skin from dehydration and prevents itching.

Food also helps us avoid the results of reckless sun exposure. Applying yogurt in case of sunburn is something that we know from our grandma and it really helps. It turns out that milk is also helpful in such cases.

If you have time, boil some lettuce leaves in water and let the water cool. Soak a piece of cotton in it and gently apply on problem areas.

If you do not want to deal with gauze, you can mix some corn flour or corn starch with a little water and spread directly on problem areas. In case you lack available materials, a tea bag dipped in cold water can help you. Tea contains tannic acid and can ease the pain of sunburn.

Soap is not recommended in case of sunburn. It dries the skin further and causes more severe irritation. The same goes for shower gels. You can pour lukewarm water mixed with a cup of white apple cider vinegar on problem areas. The mixture will help the skin recover faster, leave it clean and ease the pain of sunburn.

If you want to take a bath, pour generous amount of baking soda in the water and make sure that the water is lukewarm. When you leave the tub, do not wipe off with a towel, but let the water dry on you.

When you first feel that you have been sunbathing for too long, it’s a good idea to take something from the fridge, wrap it in a clean towel and apply on the problem area. The towel must be clean in order to avoid contaminating further the irritated skin. In order to relieve the effect of dried skin, after taking a shower and while you are still wet, spread some after-bath or baby oil on your skin. Once absorbed, add some lotion, too. It may sound far-fetched, but your damaged skin needs maximum moisturising.

Drink water, since true moisturising comes from within. Eat fruit and vegetables. Watermelons, red beets and melons are rich in water and vitamins during the summer. Make sure your diet is balanced, in order to avoid the lack of important nutrients. According to experts, beautiful skin is a sign of good health and the result of proper nutrition.

Do not make the same mistake twice. The skin needs three to six days in order to recover from sunburn. The new skin that appears after peeling is very sensitive and if you're not careful, you risk going through the same pain again. Take care of your body and your health and forget sunbathing until you feel that your skin has fully recovered. Afterwards, do not forget that you should apply sunscreen every two or three hours at the beach in order to prevent new damage and development of skin cancer.

Tags: Health beach sunburn Greece vacation

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